Four-way umbrella



Jan. 3, 1950 F. VOGEL I FOUR-WAY UMBRELLA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1E, 1946 gmwm amz Vayez Mar/M435 Jan, 3, 1950 VOG-EL 2,493,705

FOUR-WAY UMBRELLA Filed March 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 59 36 Franz V6 62 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 STATES ope- B.

tim as?11", ?5 v Franavogel, NewYork Application Ma nie, 1945', Serial ,554,810 screams. (c1, 224-) The present invention relates to improvements in'umbrellas and the like and more particularly to means for carrying the umbrella about the person of the user.

Ladies who carry umbrellas in anticipation of but not while it is raining find it a handicap and inconvenience about their persons when engaged ona shopping mission, because of the necessity of holding the same in the hand. In such instances. a greater convenience would resultif the umbrella were provided'with suitable, practical means of hanging it upon the back, shoulder, wrist or arm, thus freeing both hands at the'same time. This is the main purpose of the present invention. 7

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple, eificient and inexpensive ladies umbrella which admits of being carried about from place to place portably in a suspended position upon her back, shoulder, wrist or arm in a convenient manner by manipulation of an attaching cord with which the umbrella is provided.

Another object thereof is to provide a type of umbrella wherein use is made of looping anattaching cord either longitudinallyof the umbrella to adapt same for suspension upon the shoulder ofthe user, or else looping said attaching cord at one end of the umbrella to adapt same for girdling around the arm or wrist of the user.

A further object thereof is to provide an attaching cord for the stick of an'umbrella,-parasol or the like which, at one end thereof, is fixedly secured to the stick, and at the other'and opposite end thereof is detachably secured to'the stick or to the first-namedend of the stick for the purpose of accommodating the cord for suspension upon different parts of the users person.

Astill further object thereof is to provide an attaching cord for a ladies umbrella or the like adapted to be formed into a loop and suspended from the arm or wrist. In order to protect her arm or wrist from the chafing influence of knots and similar protuberances formed upon the ends of the loop, I provide smooth-faced loop delimiting members which space looped parts of the attaching cord out of contact with her arm or wrist.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specifications and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throu hout the respective views,

f Fi ure Figure' l is aside elevation of an umbrella equipped with myinventioml Figure 2 is a fragmental side elevation thereoi showingv the attaching cord'of Figure 1 formed intoa difierent kind of loop, 7 I

Figure 3' is a fragmental detail view; showing the attaching cord of the umbrella formed in till another different kind of loop,

Figure4 is a longitudinal,iiragmental, sectional view of one end of my invention, showing various details thereof, :Fi4gure 5ii'is'a'section'taken on line 5-5 o'fFig- ,ure,-o,.

insure S'is'a rra memal detail view of one end of d'TprOD. J 1

7 is a 'sideelevation, par ly in section, of the other end'o'f the.'invention,' f I Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line '8,'8,Tof Figure 7,.

Figure 9 v aside elevation at right angles to Figure '7, showing the cord end removed. fr m the staff.

In hedrawinss, wh h are m rely illustrative of my inven i n, he various parts and details of my invention are shown.v The umbrella proper is of conv n o l i and constr ction. being accordeda shape and style conforming to prevail:

ing trends. It isimp tant tha heumbrella hav its s k fl "p ojecting beyond opp ite nds oi;t 11e"d. 's i b1ecover art of e umbrella, because my inventionis adapted to close and con,- c althe' eends by m a s o i ably shaped props or th purpose r ldin t e opposite ends of "a t'achmg c r w i h orms the'basiS oi the P esent attachm n and" invention.

' 'These props are broadly designated II and 12, n wn particularly n Figure 1 t yarc plug-like cylindrical bodies. "The prop ll jorms the handle of the umbrella'jwhile the prop [2 forms the tip of same. The collapsed covering of the'umbrella i'sdenotecl at 13."

"One prop, l4, which is the handle of the um brella is made conveniently'out'of a plastic material such as lu'cite, or it may be shaped out of indurated cotton, wood, metal or leather, and confie red'to any d si ed outlin It is formed with an integral ye havi g t e opening it, At e other end'of hi handl M a' ubular terminal 18 is formed'which may be fluted exteriorlyas i cated n igur a .l'i

The other and ppo te p p I9 i made preie ably o the same ma e ialas handle l4 and is shown'as a cylindrical b0dy,'Which.iS alsoif rmefi at one end with an integral eye 29, However, in order'to provide means for inserting not only a portion of the flexible attaching cord into this eye in threaded relation, but also permit insertion of a cord retaining element through this eye, it will be seen from Figure '7, that this plug or prop I9 is chamfered out diametrically and centrally to provide a. groove 22 which opens out from opposite sides 'of the prop. This groove will be made of a depth sufficient to readily accommodate the thickness of the flexible cord 24. This prop l9 is also formedat its inner end with a tubular terminal 23 which may also be fluted exteriorly if desired.

It will be noted that one end of the umbrella;

stick I 9 is snugly fitted into the tubular terminal I8 of the handle l4, while the other endthereofis snugly fitted into tubular terminal 23; of the V proper or tip l9. In this way the opposite ends of the umbrella present a finished appearance i and pleasing effect.

To these props, I4 and 19 respectively, the attaching cord 24 will be connected. I take a single length of cord, made from silk, leather, cotton or rayon as maybe desired, and attach .it fixedly at one end to the handle l4 and detachably secure its other end upon the tip 19 of the umbrella,

As is seen from Figure 5,,one end of the cord 24 isbrought back upon itself foldably and loosely to provide the coaxial strands'25 and 26 respectively. These strands 25 and 26are formed upon an integral bight portion or loop 21 forming a flexible eye upon'this end of the cord. This eye is held against unravelling by a 'coil of yarn or the like means 28 wound'upon both strands 25 and 26 or otherwise. At the point where the returned end of the cord 24 engages the, main length ofthe cord 24, itis treated plastically or otherwise to provide a rigid bearing for a protecting and confining member hereinafter set forth. This bearing end of the cord 24 has a conical surface which tapers as'at 29 remotely from the loop 2'! so as to point in the direction of the other end of the cord.

Designed to back up against this conical tapering bearing 29 of the looped end of the cord '24 and be limited in movement thereby in one direction, is a confining member 30 of cylindrical crosssection. It presents a smooth surface outside. Here it is formedwith a conical tapering formation 32. The side of this member which confronts the loop 21 of cord 24 is formed'as'a straight surface in a plane at right angles to the axis of'the member as at 3|. Inside, this member has a tubular bore 33 into which is operatively fitted a tubular body 34 which flares outwardly from its inner end. It will be seen readily that the conica1 tapering bearing 29 of the cord 24 is adapted to snugly enter this flaring part of the body 34 0f the confining member 39 removably. This pro! tects the looped part from coming apart. 7 The cord 24 is formed with another looped por- 5, as shown in Figure 9. The looped portion 21 thereofv has been linked fixedly onto the ring or eye l5 or the handle l4. At its free end the cord 24 is designed to have a disengageable connection with the tip end [9 of the umbrella. For this purpose one part of cord 24 is doubled back upon itself to provide the coaxial strands 3'6, 31 shown in Figure 9, to provide an integral interconnecting loop or eye 38 upon the strands .36, 31. In a manner already described'these strands'at the point where the returned end of strand 36 is engaged with cord 24, are formed with the conical tapering bearing 29 already explained.

Itis proposed to secure tothe lastv mentioned looped portion 38 :of the attaching cord 24 a selfretaining element for the cord which becomes serviceable after the latter is connected to the tip of the umbrella. This is illustrated in Figure 7. This element is a preferably cigar-shaped plastic body or knob designated 39. It is intended to be a cross-piece for one end of the cord.

Specifically the body 39 consists of a plug shaped cylindrically. Centrally this body is formediwith oppositely arranged band-like portions 40, 4|, with an intervening shank 42 of reduced diameter so as to provide an annular groove 14311 of a depth equal to the thickness of the cord.

The opposite ends of this element are formed 00- axially'and taper in opposite directions as at 43,

144.. Bythus tapering this element is devoid of sharp corners and affords a readily graspable "part.

The cord 24 is wrapped around so as to be coiled into the groove 43a of this element 39 around reduced shank 42 thereof, for in this manner the cord Will be best countersunk into this element, after which the two strands 36, 31' (Figure 9) will, at their inner parts, be affixed together by means of a plastic shell or otherwise toclose the loop 38 of the cord' in said groove and hold the member 39 against displacement from the cord. It willbe seen'that the looped portion at one end of the cord, where it is fixedly attached to handle I 4 (Figure 5) has a slit 45 necessarily formed between the strands 2'5, 26 thereof. Similarly between the strands 36; 37 of the looped portion at the other and free end of the cord 24 is a slit46,shown in Figure 9. V

The use and operation of the present invention will now be detailed. 1

The purpose is to make the umbrella convenient to carry about ones person. If it is desired to carry the umbrella upon the back so as to carry it about subconsciously, with every mark of assurance that it will not accidentally slip off from the position where placed, then the parts will be arranged as shown in Figure 1. Here one end of the cordis fixedly secured at all times to the handle I 4 of the umbrella. The other and free end of the cord, the part which carries the cross-piece 39 .is manipulated by slidably seating the two overlapping strands 3'6, 7 31 (Figure 9) in the groove ,22 of the prop 'or tip 19, as shown in Figure 8. f For this. purpose, the cigar-shaped element 39 and the countersunk loop 38 of the'cord 24 is slidably passed into'and through eye 2| of ring 20 formed .on-this tip I9, at the same time that the strands 36, 31 of the cord are being moved out of the groove 22. Then by swinging the element 39 around into .T-shaped formation with the cord, it serves its function as a cross piece as shown in Figure 1, by engaging the ring 20 with overlapping contact, thus preventing accidental displacement of this end of the cord from the eye 2 I.

i Figure 1 shows that the cord 24 is bowedlongi- .tudinally of the umbrellas in looped relation. This bowed formation'e'nables the cord 24 'to be slung over the neck of the wearer so that the cord will extend cliagonally'across the breastof the user while the umbrellas proper lie across her back. It frees both arms and hands.

If it is desired to carry theumbrella suspended from the shoulder, the bowed formation of the cord 2-4 shown in Figure 1 is again reliedupon. The cord is now suspended from the handle end of the umbrella in such a manner, that the strands 25, 26 Of this looped end of the cord rest, together with the confining member 30, directly upon the shoulder, thereby causing the cord itself to extend downwardly along the arm of the user and positioning the umbrella proper vertically down the side. In this position, the confining member has been frictionally fitted against the conical tapering bearing 29 of the cord, and it provides an extended yet smooth bearing surface for the umbrella upon the shoulder so that a mild clamp like effect is had between the rigid handle [4 of the umbrella and the contiguously adjacent confining member 39. The bowed cord 24 could also be hung from a hook on a wall.

When it is desired to carry the umbrella upon the arm the parts will be arranged as shown in Figure 2. The knob or cross-piece 39 will be disengaged from the position it is shown to have in Figure 1 by being sl'pped out of the eye 2| of the tip l9, as the cord 24 is being slipped along groove 22. Being now disengaged from the tip IS, the knob 39 is inserted through slit 45 between strands 25, 26 of the cord 24, where it will again serve to prevent accidental displacement of itself therefrom. A loop has not been formed by extending (Figure 2) cord 29 so it forms a bight portion 24a, with its stretch 24b brought back to a position to permit insertion of knob 39 through the mentioned looped part of the cord. The two confining members 39 will now delimit the loop entirely from the remaining parts of the umbrella, and their smooth faces will not chafe the skin of the user with which they may contact. The looped cord is now slipped around the arm so as to girdle the same suspendingly.

When it is desired to carry the umbrella around the wrist the parts are as shown in Figure 3. The loop is formed in exactly the same manner as the loops shown in Figure 2 as far as extending the knob 39 through the looped portion of the cord as indicated hereinbefore, only that before making this insertion of the knob, the cord 24 is manipulated by wrapping portion 240 and an oppo- I site portion 24d around the wrist of the person to form the coil 24c, and then extending the stretch 24b to permit of such insertion of the knob for retaining purposes.

From the foregoing it is seen that the umbrella can be attached at four diflerc-nt places about the person of the user, by making easily and conveniently the change-overs. I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth save as pointed out in the appended claims.

While the umbrella has been referred to as a four way type, it will be understood that this is not meant as a term of limitation and that the invention herein disclosed can have other uses, including encircling the waist of the wearer with the cord disclosed in Figure 2. When the cord. or belt is wrapped around the waist, the umbrella hangs along the right or left side of the wearer, as the case may be.

(ill

What I desire to claim and secure by patent is:

1. In combination an umbrella having an elongated stick, and means for carrying said umbrella consisting of a pair of plugs fitted to opposite ends of said stick, a single length of cord having one end thereof passing through one of the plugs to be brought back in secured relation upon said cord to form a loop, a knob carried by the other end of the cord removably and alternatively engageable with the plug and said cord loop, the other end of said cord engaging about said knob and being returned along the length of the cord defining a second loop and cord confining members engaging about the ends of said cord at the adjacent ends of said loops for setting apart therebetween the limits of a flexible hanger for said body.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an umbrella carrying attachment comprising a length of cord formed at one end with a looped portion secured back upon itself defining a loop at one end thereof, a knob of cylindrical shape having an annular groove thereabout within which the other end of the cord is engaged and retained, and a member formed with a key hole shaped opening through which said knob and cord may be extended and a tubular end on said member for attachment to one end of the umbrella stick.

3. As a new article of manufacture an umbrella carrying attachment comprising a length of cord formed at one end with a looped portion secured back upon itself providing a tapered portion toward th other end of the cord, a retainer fitted over said tapered portion whereby the loop portion is fixedly secured, a second knob of cylindrical shape having an annular central groove into which the other end of the cord is looped and retained, and a member formed with a keyhole-shaped openin through which said cord and said second knob may be retainedly extended, said member being removable and having a remote tubular end for securing to one end of the umbrella stick.

FRANZ VOGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,033 Atwood Sept. 20, 1887 486,135 Stockdale Nov. 15, 1892 730,566 Pilcher June 9, 1903 2,367,234 Mitchell Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 679,562 France Jan. 10, 1930 

